2023 Speakers

Akvile Marozaite is the CEO and co-founder of Expedition Cruise Network, which she has grown to 18 global expedition cruise companies and 700 travel trade professionals in just five months. She has a passion for and extensive experience in working in the expedition cruise sector including as expeditions operations manager for Silversea and the UK and Scandinavia business development manager at Danish expedition cruise company Albatros Expeditions.

Her focus is to continue to grow the Expedition Cruise Network and she has ambitious plans to educate all sellers in cruise about this exciting and dynamic sector.

To learn more see https://www.expeditioncruisenetwork.com/

Alexander Höfling is a graduate engineer (FH) in shipbuilding and has been internationally active in mechanical and plant engineering as well as interior design for three decades. As managing director and in other leading positions, he has been responsible for commercial and interior design projects at shipyards and suppliers for many years. Since 2022, he has served on the board of the well-known Meyer Group in various leadership roles and functions, successfully reshaping the business and establishing the new after-sales brand MEYER RE. As Chairman of AIP and RE Interior, he is reshaping the business processes with his knowledge from development experience and ongoing business activities.

Bob McGowan has worked in the hospitality and travel industry for over 18 years. Originally training in hospitality management, he started his career overseas in 2000 before moving onto cruise ships, working his way up to Cruise Director for Thomson Cruises. His passion for excellence and exceeding customers’ expectations allowed him to hold a number of senior roles in resorts and hotels worldwide. In 2010, he started working for British cruise line, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, eventually becoming Director of Guest Services & Product.

Bob joined Ambassador Cruise Line as Head of Guest Experience in April 2021, and was soon promoted to the role of Head of Operations in 2023 with responsibility for all aspects of ship operations, including onboard product delivery, overseeing short-notice programme changes and any other issues which affect delivery of the Ambassador product.  Bob was instrumental in the initial development of the onboard overhaul and product development on board both ships.

The introduction of the Ambassador brand and style throughout both ships was a major project, with both ships being second-hand they already had unique styles and interior designs bespoke to their historic lines. Alongside both internal and external teams Bob’s leadership of the onboard facilities overhaul project was extensive to bring both ships into a style and design that complimented and introduced the Ambassador brand in a complimentary and consistent style across the newly created fleet. From public areas, restaurants and cabins works and development through to the introduction and development of all onboard supporting materials such as menus, POS materials, digital assets, general signage, etc. Bob’s passion for the brand is clearly seen for anyone stepping on board, ensuring that the delivery and experience that guests receive both shoreside and onboard is seamless and memorable.

Charly heads up Product Development, Experience Design and strategic client direction at Spark Cooperative, a ten year old Miami-based Experience Design agency. Charly brings with him to Spark more than 20 years of designing experiences at Royal Caribbean, where he was most recently the Associate Vice President of Entertainment and Activities. 


Experiences executed by Charly: 

• Multicultural, industry-acclaimed onboard programming for 4 million guests annually aboard Royal Caribbean’s fleet of 23 ships, including 8 classes of ships from conceptualization and design to launch, operation and refurbishment, and the strategy for the cruise industry’s first smart ship designed for ultra high-tech vacations.

• A portfolio of ground-breaking and award-winning industry firsts in entertainment and experiences, including, live events ranging from Broadway, ice, aqua and aerial shows to parades, headline entertainment, variety acts, and youth and family entertainment. 


• Product Development, Experience Design & Newbuild Operational and start up support for new to market brands including Virgin Voyages, Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, Jalesh Cruises, Four Seasons Yachts & Explora Journeys.

Donna has nearly twenty-five years’ experience in the manufacturing industry and has been living and breathing bespoke lighting manufacture from a young age.

As Managing Director of Northern Lights Ltd she spearheaded the company’s growth to firmly establish its position as the one of the UK’s leading luxury lighting suppliers. 

Having worked across all remits of bespoke manufacturing, Donna uses her passion and wealth of knowledge to continually drive the business forward across hospitality, marine and commercial and markets globally. 

Throughout her career Donna has recognized that women are still under-represented in the manufacturing industry and throughout leadership roles.  She’s since led the way by building a strong female leadership team and providing opportunities for mentorship and growth.

In 2022, Donna won the Manufacturer Top 100 award across three categories and was voted an Exemplar Top 100 Manufacturer by her peers.

Erik is speaking at CSI Europe, their full bio will be available shortly…

Through Fiona’s exceptional leadership, Richmond has established itself as one of the world’s leading hospitality design consultancies. Her ability to nurture, challenge and inspire has resulted in an award-winning practice that has set the benchmark for international five-star design. Fiona has travelled extensively from an early age which has provided her with a deep-rooted understanding of global cultures. This understanding allows Fiona to effortlessly articulate clients’ desires and translate them into world-renowned destinations. Highly regarded within the industry, Richmond has benefited from Fiona’s remarkable talent for over 25 years.

Gianluca is speaking at CSI Europe, their full bio will be available shortly…

Kristian Englund is a senior Architect of YSA Design, former Y & S Architects, where after having ventured the world approaching ship design & construction from different angles for 10 years, came back to YSA in 2018 bringing added value and ideas about sustainability and future design methods. YSA Design is based in Oslo, Norway and has specialized in designing cruise ships, river cruises and small ships since 1985.

Kristian went to Architecture school at the University of Trondheim, Norway, and was already introduced to the cruise industry as a summer intern at Y & S Architects in 2007. After this Kristian has worked on various design projects under his own name such as prototype design for the Royal class ships for Princess cruises, Britannia for P&O, Dry-dock management projects for Disney, and later doing sustainability projects in collaboration with Carnival Corporation and NCL.

Although Kristian has out of curiosity and sometimes necessity approached some projects from a more technical point of view, his heart will always be on the design side, so when the opportunity of coming back to his former employer presented itself in 2018, it was an easy choice to step back into the ship design approach where he feels the most at home.  

Kristian is currently involved in the lead architect team of a series of large cruise ships, allowing him to see all sides of the design and construction process at the same time. This has led to new ideas on how to merge sustainability efforts and future work-methods into the design process, and he is currently leading a collaboration project aimed to simplify integration between sustainability and design by using big data as a catalyst.

Piers Wilkinson works as an independent project manager allowing him to offer an objective overview of knowledge from across the industry. He has a large network of contacts throughout cruise refit and newbuild circles helping him to provide solutions for many situations. In addition to achieving an honours degree in Naval Architecture at Newcastle University, Piers has gained extensive project management experience from working around the globe in the maritime business. He has successfully completed small complex design and builds, as well as large-scale technical and outfitting projects for both shipyards and ship owners alike.

Stefanie Jentz is Senior Project Manager – Newbuild at Hapag-Lloyd. Graduating as a product developer and designer

Stefanie has 22 years in the maritime segment, during which time she has been involved in ships projects from the largest mega yachts to luxury cruise and exclusive expedition boutique vessels, which specialize in customizing small vessels “town plans” in interior and exterior.

More recently, Stefanie designs and specifyies Newbuild from white paper for Hapag-Lloyd down to detailed customized solutions in cabins and manages luxury cruise vessels in the international building processes until warranty ( MV Europa 2 and the new expedition class MV HANSEATIC nature, inspiration and spirit).

Stephen is a native of Ireland who left shortly after university, moving firstly to England. Since then, he has lived and worked in Hong Kong, Australia, and Italy. At University he undertook studies in Architecture, and 10 years later postgraduate studies in Project Management. He has been involved in the cruise industry for over 25 years working on new build, refurbishment, and major conversion projects for some of the world’s leading cruise lines. Stephen’s main area of expertise is in interior fit-out works and over the years has gained vast experience and knowledge in Project Management of cruise ship construction projects. Stephen’s most recent projects include Celebrity Silhouette, final delivery of RCI Wonder of the Seas, and Silver Nova for Silversea. 

He now lives in Florida, mainly because that is where the work is, but also because he dislikes cold weather.      

Elegance and rigour make Sybille de Margerie a precious ally for large-scale projects, prestigious hotels, and luxurious residences worldwide. Mandarin Oriental Paris, Cheval Blanc Courchevel, Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa, Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, bear her signature and illustrate the interior designer’s philosophy that “luxury is in the details as well as in the language of texture and colors.”

Culture and emotion are her key words for a timeless and refined luxury. Atlantis The Royal Residences, Four Seasons Water Canal in Dubai and Cunard’s “Queen Anne” luxury cruise ship are challenging projects where she injects character and her touch of French style.

Upcoming projects include comprehensive renovations of the iconic Shepheard hotel, future Mandarin Oriental Cairo, and the Villa Camerata, Florence, first Baccarat hotel in Italy.”I like the balance between tradition and modernity, I attach great importance to the fluidity of spaces, to light and comfort. My work is also reflected in the culture of detail, the choice of materials and the harmony of colours.”
Sybille de Margerie